A photograph of a distinguised gentleman standing in front of the bank in Pony, Montana, around the turn of the 20th century caught my eye when I was about 12 years old. It was a photograph of my 3 greats Grandpa, George H. as the family calls him (to distinguish him from his son, my 2 greats grandpa, George T.) Sparrell. The photograph was in a Madison County, Montana history book and he told the folks who compiled it that he came to the gold rush in Virginia City, Montana in its beginning in 1864 from Plymouth, Massachusetts. I asked my grandma, his great granddaughter if he might be of the Pilgrims and she told me she knew nothing of her family. I was bit by curiosity but wasn't able to pursue until 21 years later after the birth on my daughter and had the blessing of working with a lady in one of my library jobs who taught me how to do this genealogy thing. I've been consumed with it since 1993 and was happy to find out plenty (and yes, he was descended from Elder William Brewster of Mayflower fame) to share, unfortunately not with Grandma because she had passed away, but with her sister, my great aunt - who encouraged me to pursue this back in '93 so she could find out if she was the last of her line (which she was, except for us).
I have a university degree in History, have worked in libraries since 1980 and have a passion for the detective work of genealogy, not only my own but others also. It allows me to be constantly learning nearly every day. I've been blessed with a family rich in history and experience, and love what I do, thankful for that blessing in and of itself.

A photograph of a distinguised gentleman standing in front of the bank in Pony, Montana, around the turn of the 20th century caught my eye when I was about 12 years old. It was a photograph of my 3 greats Grandpa, George H. as the family calls him (to distinguish him from his son, my 2 greats grandpa, George T.) Sparrell. The photograph was in a Madison County, Montana history book and he told the folks who compiled it that he came to the gold rush in Virginia City, Montana in its beginning in 1864 from Plymouth, Massachusetts. I asked my grandma, his great granddaughter if he might be of the Pilgrims and she told me she knew nothing of her family. I was bit by curiosity but wasn't able to pursue until 21 years later after the birth on my daughter and had the blessing of working with a lady in one of my library jobs who taught me how to do this genealogy thing. I've been consumed with it since 1993 and was happy to find out plenty (and yes, he was descended from Elder William Brewster of Mayflower fame) to share, unfortunately not with Grandma because she had passed away, but with her sister, my great aunt - who encouraged me to pursue this back in '93 so she could find out if she was the last of her line (which she was, except for us).
I have a university degree in History, have worked in libraries since 1980 and have a passion for the detective work of genealogy, not only my own but others also. It allows me to be constantly learning nearly every day. I've been blessed with a family rich in history and experience, and love what I do, thankful for that blessing in and of itself.